McConnell House

This antebellum home in downtown Franklin sat right in the middle of the devastating 1864 Battle of Franklin. The walls have seen things most buildings never do.

The McConnell House stands in the heart of Franklin's Civil War battlefield, where the brutal five-hour Battle of Franklin claimed nearly 7,000 Confederate casualties. The house witnessed the aftermath of one of the bloodiest hours of the Civil War, and this traumatic history has left its mark on the building.

Ghost tour guides share stories of activity that dates back to the battle itself. Visitors have reported seeing figures in Civil War-era clothing moving through the property, particularly at dusk during October. The sounds of drum beats and marching have been heard, echoing the terrible night when thousands of soldiers clashed just outside. The temperature drops sharply in areas believed to have been used for treating wounded soldiers. Some visitors report an overwhelming sense of sadness and despair when entering certain rooms. The emotional residue from that terrible November night in 1864 seems permanently embedded in the house, and the spirits of soldiers who never left the battlefield continue to make their presence known.